Dead Wake: The Last Crossing Of The Lusitania

On Sunday, May 2, Schwieger’s U-20 nears the Fair Isle in Scottish waters and sees “two destroyers in the distance” (135). Schwieger quickly orders the submarine to dive below the surface—a dangerous maneuver for submarines because they are completely vulnerable to attacks during dives. After fully submerging, a submarine can move forward through the water, but this can be dangerous because it is difficult for the crew to see whether there are any obstacles in the submarine’s path. After a few hours, Schwieger orders the submarine to ascend back to the ocean’s surface. Such ascents are referred to as “blind moment[s]” because the crew is unable to see whether any enemy ships are near them during ascents. When the U-20 finishes its ascent, Schwieger sees six “patrol vessels” surrounding him as well as the same two destroyers “behind him” (140).  

After its rendezvous with the British warships, the Lusitania heads towards Liverpool, achieving its top speed of 21 knots. Turner chooses a course that avoids icebergs by following a southerly route. Turner is calm despite reports from Britain’s Admiralty that U-boat activity has increased. These reports include orders that reduce the risk of U-boat attacks, such as only using wireless communication when “absolutely necessary” (145).